DE10063624A1 - Electroplating system has anodes in the plating bath together with electrically conductive rollers as cathodes to move the workpieces forwards or backwards through the bath - Google Patents

Abstract

Electroplating system has a bath with an anode and a number of electrically conductive rollers to form the cathode within the bath, to move the workpieces through the bath for plating. The current supply carries the electrical current to the anodes and the rollers. The rollers can move the workpieces forwards or backwards through the plating bath.

Description

The present invention relates to systems and methods for efficient plating of a subject for plating (hereinafter called "work (s)" becomes).

A conventional process for plating a solid conductive work piece such as a plate-shaped metal piece or magnetic piece, is like follows: a large number of such workpieces is carried out in a drum arranged which has a polygonal, for example a hexagonal, configuration in the Cross section and a variety of communication connections for a platter solution defined; the drum is then contained in a plating bath immersed plating solution; and a plating stream is applied to one in the plat anode and a cathode arranged in the drum while the drum is rotating. Usually with the Katho de electrically connected media (iron balls) inserted into the drum, so that the plating stream can run uniformly through the plurality of workpieces.

In such a conventional plating process, however, overlap in the Drum housed work pieces, which becomes a problem of a very low plating efficiency. In the case where the media is used , the media inserted into the drum is inevitably plated, what results in a further reduced plating efficiency. In addition, a Rotation of the drum so that the work pieces collide with each other, what in one Damage to a pointed or angular part of a work piece animals.  

The present invention is made in view of such problems, and accordingly It is an object of the present invention to provide a plating system and a plat To provide a plating process that a plating with a higher plat tion efficiency while damaging individual ar prevent pieces of work.

According to a first aspect of the present invention is a plating system created which comprises: an anode plated plating bath; a variety of electrically conductive rollers that form a cathode and in Plating bath are arranged for routing workpieces as subjects for plating; and a plating stream supply section for supplying plat tation current to the anode and the electrically conductive rollers to cause sen that the work pieces are clad.

The plating system according to the first aspect of the invention can work pieces plating arranged separately on the electrically conductive rollers are while they convey or forward them, and accordingly Work pieces without any interference or collision with each other, and thus without any damage to a particular work piece can be plated efficiently.

In a preferred embodiment of the above plating system Plating bath through a sidewall for entry defining an inlet which the work pieces on the electrically conductive rollers in the plating bath be carried, and a side wall to carry out, which defi an outlet through which the workpieces that have been clad come out of the bathroom are carried out with each of the side wall to be carried in and the sides wall is provided with a leakage prevention device for carrying out, to prevent a plating solution in the plating bath from leaving the bath flows while allowing the workpieces through the inlet or outlet to run.

The provision of the inlet and the outlet, each in the side wall to the Enter and the side wall are defined to be carried out, the plating bads allows workpieces to enter the plating bath through the inlet and that the workpieces that have been clad by the end let be carried out of the bath. This feature allows the work pieces  carried calmly into and out of the plating bath be carried out, which improves productivity. In addition is it is because the leak preventing device prevents or prevents it, that a large amount of the plating solution through the inlet or the outlet leaks when the workpieces enter or leave the plating bath can be carried out, the plating solution in the plating bad to use effectively during a plating failure due to such an out is avoided while running the plating solution.

Another preferred embodiment of the plating system according to the The first aspect of the invention also has the following: Drive device for causing the electrically conductive rollers in front turn backwards and forwards.

The provision of the roller drive means allows the electrical turn the leading rollers back and forth. A forward and backward turn hung of the electrically conductive rollers allows an area in which Ar shielded by the electrically conductive rollers against the anode are reciprocated for a desired period of time, whereby each ar beitsstück with a plating layer with a desired thickness uniformly plat can be tiert. Furthermore, it is because plating back and forth moving workpieces can be reached, possible the plating bath to be compact.

In another embodiment of the plating system according to the first Aspect of the invention, the anode has a lower anode, which is among the elec trisch conductive rollers is arranged, and an upper anode, which over the elek trically conductive rollers is arranged.

The provision of the upper and lower anode allows them to be electrically connected work rolls arranged in the plating bath from above and from be plated at the bottom, making it possible to have a plating layer on the bottom quickly form the upper and lower sides of each work piece. This is at particularly advantageous, for example, where each work piece is flat or plate-shaped.  

Another embodiment of the plating system according to the first Aspect of the invention also has a dummy or dummy or Er set work piece that is adjacent to each of opposite lateral ones Edges of a work-carrying area is arranged through the electrically conductive rollers is defined, the replacement work piece with a Cathode side of the plating current supply section is electrically connected.

The provision of the replacement work piece makes it possible to prevent one Concentrate the plating current on a pointed or angular part of a work piece triert, which is adjacent to a lateral edge or a lateral edge of the Workpiece-carrying area is arranged, causing local thickening of the resulting plating layer is avoided, which is otherwise the case pointed part of a work piece arranged as such would be likely. Accordingly, the formation of a non-uniform plating layer can be what the arrangement of a respective work piece in the Be carrying a work piece is richly attributable to be prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention is a plating system created which comprises: an anode plated plating bath; a work piece container unit with a variety of electrically conductive Rollers for carrying workpieces as subjects for plating thereon the electrically conductive rollers form a cathode; and a roller Drive device for causing the electrically conductive rollers in front turn backwards and forwards; a conveying device for conveying the ar beitsstück-container unit and for fitting or bringing the work piece container and to remove the plating bath therefrom; and one Plating current supply section for supplying plating current to the anode and to the electrically conductive rollers to cause the workpieces be plated.

This plating system according to the second aspect of the invention introduces one Plating process by which workpieces on the electrically conductive Rollers are carried, and can thus realize an efficient plating without damage the work pieces. Furthermore, because the work piece Container unit with the electrically conductive rollers through the conveying device device can be fitted into and removed from the plating bath, workpieces  be handled on a work piece container unit basis. So is the plating system is excellent in handling property and operability. For example, treatments that are for the Plattie tion process, such as washing with acid and a Washing with water can be achieved on a work piece container unit basis. Furthermore, the provision of the roller drive means allows an area in which the workpieces against the anode by the electrically conductive rollers are shielded for a desired period of time by forward and backward backward rotation of the electrically conductive rollers are moved back and forth, whereby each work piece with a plating layer of a desired thickness can be plated. Furthermore, it is because plating on the Ar pieces can be achieved in a state of a reciprocating motion, possible to make the work piece container unit compact.

In a preferred embodiment of the plating system according to the In the second aspect of the invention, the anode has a lower anode, which is located under the electrically conductive rollers is arranged, and an upper anode, which over the electrically conductive rollers is arranged; and furthermore is a shifting device device for moving the upper anode to a location where the upper anode does not interfere with the work piece container unit when the work piece Container unit is to be fitted into or removed from the plating bath.

The provision of the upper anode and the lower anode allows that on the electrically conductive rollers arranged workpieces from above and below be plated when the work piece container unit fits in the plating bath which enables a plating layer on the top and on the quickly form the bottom of each work piece. This is for example be particularly advantageous where each work piece is flat or plate-shaped. Still is it is possible to prevent the upper anode from the work piece container unit bothers if the work piece container unit is to be fitted into the plating bath.

Another embodiment of the plating system according to the second Aspect of the invention further includes a replacement work piece that is adjacent to a peripheral edge of an area carrying a work piece is arranged, which is defined by the electrically conductive rollers, the replacement work piece  electrically connected to a cathode side of the plating current supply section that is.

The provision of the replacement work piece makes it possible to prevent plat tion stream concentrated on an angular part of a respective work piece, the adjacent to the peripheral edge of the work-carrying area net, thereby avoiding local thickening of the resulting plating layer what else on an angular part of a work arranged as such would probably be. Accordingly, the formation of a non-uniform Chen plating layer, which is the arrangement of a respective work piece in one Workpiece-carrying area is to be prevented.

In the preferred embodiment, which has the upper and lower anode, the Plating system according to the first or the second aspect of the invention, the plating current supply section may have an upper anode current Control section for controlling a plate to be fed to the upper anode current and a lower anode current control section for controlling one lower anode to be supplied with plating current.

By providing the upper and lower anode current control sections it is possible to determine the current density at the lower anode through the electrically conductive Rolls is shielded compared to the current density at the top anode too increase. By increasing the current density at the bottom anode compared to that that of the upper anode, it is possible to determine the amount of plating on the lower one Increase side of each work piece by the electrically conductive rollers is shielded and therefore not easy to plate, which results in an improved plate Coating layer uniformity on the top and bottom of each work piece is created.

In the preferred embodiment, which has the upper and lower anode, the Plating system according to the first or second aspect of the invention the electrically conductive rollers can be provided with a roller cover, shields a lower side thereof from the lower anode.

The provision of the roller cover makes it possible to re-coat a plating layer induce by the lower anode inevitably on surfaces of the electrical  conductive rollers is formed. Thus, for each roller, it can be prevented that it has rough surfaces, which otherwise due to the formation of a platter would be formed on the roller, whereby the outer peripheries or Outer circumferences of the rollers are kept uniform. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce non-uniform plating, which is otherwise not due to a uniform contact between the workpieces and the rollers would. Furthermore, an exchange of the electrically conductive rollers, which then becomes necessary when the amount of plating layer on each roller is one exceeds a certain permissible limit after a longer time interval become what results in an improved maintainability.

In a preferred embodiment of the plating system according to the First or second aspect of the invention have the electrically conductive whale zen each have a drive shaft part which is provided with a drive element, and a roller part carrying a work piece, which is removable on the drive shaft part is attached to carry the workpieces on it.

The feature that the roller part carrying a work piece on the drive shaft part is removably attached, allows only the part carrying each work piece Replace the roller with a new one if the roller is too clad, causing favorable contact between the roller and each work piece is maintained. Accordingly, there is no need to remove the entire electrically conductive roller replace, which results in improved serviceability.

In the preferred embodiment, which has the upper and lower anode, the Plating system according to the first or the second aspect of the invention, For example, the upper anode may have a detachable electrode material that is bonded to a Progress of plating is releasable, and can be a mesh element under the top Anode may be provided to prevent fine particles of the detachable electro the material resulting from the dissolution of the detachable electrode material, falling on the workpieces during plating.

The network element prevents such fine particles of the detachable electrode material terials created during the plating process on an upper one Adhere to the surface of each work piece. Accordingly, there is no possibility that such fine particles serve as nuclei to cause a  Plating layer does not grow uniformly, and thus a plating layer can high quality with a favorable surface profile.

In the preferred embodiment, which has the upper and lower anode, the Plating system according to the first or the second aspect of the invention, the upper anode may alternatively have an insoluble electrode material. In In this case, the electrode material of the upper anode will never be in the plate dissolving process, and thus never produce fine particles of it, which in the Case would be generated a detachable electrode material. Thus a High quality plating layer without occurrence of non-uniform Growth can be obtained.

In another preferred embodiment of the plating system According to the first or the second aspect of the invention, the plating bath is included a filter device for filtering a plating contained in the plating bath Solution to remove fine dirt contained therein.

The provision of the filter device enables fine particles of a detachable elec to remove trode material due to a dissolution of the detachable electrical dermaterials are generated, and fine soiling, such as Dust contained in the plating solution contained in the plating bath. Accordingly, it is possible to form a non-uniform plating layer due to such fine dirt adhering to one prevent each work piece, creating a high quality plating layer activity is created.

Another embodiment of the plating system according to the first or The second aspect of the invention further includes a conveyance guide to to prevent workpieces from being placed on the electrically conductive rollers are arranged adjacent to each other along an axis of a respective one of the are electrically conductive rollers, contact each other.

The provision of the transport routing makes it possible to reliably prevent that workpieces arranged on the electrically conductive rollers in places are adjacent to each other along an axis of a respective roller, contact each other. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a  Prevent plating defect that would otherwise occur with possible contact parts of be neighboring workpieces would be likely, creating a plating layer high quality is ensured on every work piece.

Another embodiment of the plating system according to the first or the second aspect of the present invention further includes a carriage container to arrange and move on the electrically conductive rollers is. This transport container defines a large number of rooms for accommodation of workpieces, which spaces each through the container in its Extend thickness direction to accommodate each of the workpieces individually gene.

The provision of the transport container enables work pieces to be moved or to transport that in respective rooms to accommodate work pieces of the transport container are individually housed, which conduct on the electrical the rollers is arranged, creating mutual contact between work pieces secured is prevented, which are adjacent to each other in the carriage direction and along the axis of a respective electrically conductive roller are arranged. Accordingly, it is possible to establish mutual contact between Ar pieces and a plating defect due to such a mutual To prevent contact reliably, resulting in improved plating quality is ensured.

According to a third aspect of the present invention is a plating process created, comprising the steps of: providing a plating bads with an anode and a variety of electrically conductive rollers for carrying of workpieces as subjects for plating thereon, the electrically conductive Rollers form a cathode; Carrying work pieces into the plating bath; Arrange the workpieces on the electrically conductive rollers and undergarments hen the workpieces are plated, while the same by rotating the elec trically conductive rollers are moved on the electrically conductive rollers; and Removing the work pieces so plated from the plating bath.

This method can plate workpieces efficiently without damaging them dig.  

In a preferred embodiment of this plating process subjecting the workpieces to plating while they are electrically conductive rolling forward and backward by rotating the electrically conductive rollers be moved back and forth.

By moving the work pieces back and forth on the electrically conductive whale It is possible to set the plating time period as desired and one Plating layer with a desired thickness on a respective work piece regardless of the length of the plating bath in the vehicle direction.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a plating process created, comprising the steps of: providing a plating bads with an anode and a work piece container unit with a variety of electrically conductive rollers that form a cathode and workpieces as subjects wear on it for plating; Fit the work piece container unit into it Plating bath; Subjecting the workpieces to plating while the same by rotating the electrically conductive rollers on the electrically conductive rollers be moved back and forth; and carry out the work piece-container unit, which contains the work pieces thus plated, from the platter bath.

This method can set the plating time period as desired to do so by a plating layer of a desired thickness on a respective Ar form the work piece without damaging the work piece. Furthermore, that Process the advantage of excellent handling and operation ability because the work pieces are on a work piece container unit basis can be traded.

The foregoing and other tasks, characteristics and accompanying advantages of present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description become clear in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating the overall configuration of a plating system as a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway side elevational view showing a plating bath in a state in which a work piece container unit is accommodated in the plating system of the first embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a partially cutaway front elevation of the plating bath shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the plating bath, showing a shifting means for shifting an upper anode;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a frame structure of the work piece container unit;

Fig. 6 is a front view, partly in section, of electrically conductive rollers rotatably attached to a lower frame member;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line A and seen in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing part of an electricity supply member for supplying electricity to the electroconductive rollers;

Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a control system of the plating system according to the first embodiment;

Fig. 10 is a view illustrating the overall configuration of a plating system as a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken along the direction of conveyance of a plating bath in the plating system according to the second example approximately exporting;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a leak prevention device;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view of a central part of the leak prevention device;

Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing a control system of the plating system according to the second embodiment;

Fig. 15 is a side elevational view, partially shown in section, of the plating bath in accordance with processing the first embodiment, wherein the network element provided with an upper anode is shown, and a Filtervorrich in the block diagram;

Fig. 16 is a partially sectioned view of an example of a conveyance guide attached to a lower frame part;

Fig. 17 is a partially sectional view taken along a line A in Fig. 16 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a partially sectioned view of another example of a conveyance guide attached to the lower frame part;

Fig. 19 is a partially sectional view taken along a line A in Fig. 18 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view along the Y axis of a lower frame member provided with replacement work pieces and a conveyance guide; and

Figure 21 is a top view of a transport container.

Now the present invention will be described in detail based on its preferred embodiment Example described with reference to the drawings.  

First, the entire plating system will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 1, which shows the overall configuration of a plating system as the first embodiment of the present invention. For convenience of illustration, according to the coordinate system in FIG. 1, the direction in which a carrier 71 moves is called "x-axis direction" or "longitudinal direction", and becomes the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carrier 71 in one Longitudinal plane including that direction of movement is called "y-axis direction" or "lateral direction".

The plating system includes an entry station 101 , an acid wash bath 102 , a first water wash bath 103 , a first ultrasonic water wash bath 104 , a plating bath 1 , a second water wash bath 105 , a second ultrasonic water wash bath 106 , a third water wash bath 107 , a drying chamber 108 with a plurality of hot air inlets, a carry-out station 109 and a plating layer removal bath 110 which are linearly arranged in the x-axis direction. The baths, including the plating bath 1 and the acid wash bath 102 , are sometimes collectively called "treatment baths" without distinction. A transport rail 70 spans these components, and the transport carrier 71 is slidably mounted on the rail Beförde approximately 70th The carrier 71 is seen with a lifting arm ver, which is used to fit a work piece container unit 21 into a respective such treatment bath or the like and to remove the same from the sem by being hung up and down. The station 101 for carrying in and the station 109 for carrying out are each provided with a platform for the work piece container unit 21 to be arranged thereon.

The work piece container unit 21 containing the work pieces is lifted up from the station 101 to be carried in and carried to and fitted into each of the treatment baths and a chamber in the order of an acid wash bath 102 , a first water wash bath 103 , a first Ultrasonic water wash bath 104 , a plating bath 1 , a second water wash bath 105 , a second ultrasonic water wash bath 106 , a third water wash bath 107 and a drying chamber 108 , so that the workpieces are subjected to a respective treatment. The work piece container unit 21 containing the work pieces thus treated is then conveyed to the station 109 for carrying out. The main part of the plating system according to this embodiment has the plating bath 1 , the work container unit 21 and the carrier 71 . The role of the plating layer removal bath 110 will be described later. In Fig. 1, a possible case is omitted in which a plurality of work piece container units 21 are fitted into the treatment baths and a chamber in a one-to-one relationship.

The main part of the plating system according to the first embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, which show the work container unit 21 in a state in which it is fitted in the plating bath 1 .

1 in the plating bath containing a plating solution, an upper anode 2 and a lower anode 3 in an opposed relation to each other are arranged ent long the height of the bath 1, between which a lower part of Ar beitsstück tank unit 21 is positioned. The lower anode 3 is fixed to the bottom of the plating bath 1 in an isolated condition. The upper and lower anode 2 and 3 each have a housing for accommodating an electrode material and an electrode material housed therein, the housing for housing electrode material having a plurality of communication holes for providing communication between the electrode material and one in the plating bath 1 contained plating solution defined. The electrode material can be either releasable electrode material that is soluble in the plating solution during the plating process, or insoluble electrode material that is insoluble in the plating solution. For example, in a nickel plating process, a nickel plate or chip can be used as the releasable electrode material, while platinum, titanium or iridium can be used as the insoluble electrode material. The housing for housing electrode material, on the other hand, is formed from non-detachable electrode material, such as titanium. In the case where a suitable non-detachable electrode material molded into a plate or the like is used as the upper anode 2 , the housing for housing electrode material is not absolutely necessary. With regard to the plating solution, for example, the watt bath is available with a gloss or semi-gloss bath treatment or plating.

The plating bath 1 is formed at its upper part with a space 5 for withdrawing an anode to allow the upper anode 2 to be withdrawn therein. As shown in Fig. 4 is a shift device 6 to the chamber 5 for retracting an anode, Zvi around the upper anode 2 rule of Plattierungsposition and the space 5 to move to retract an anode. The displacement device 6 contains a guide 7 which is provided with an anode support arm 8 which is movable along the guide 7 in the y-axis direction. The anode support arm 8 has a front part which is formed with a downwardly extending anode fastening 9 which supports or holds the upper anode 2 in the horizontal direction at its lower end. The anode support arm 8 is movable in the forward and backward directions in the y-axis direction by means of a driving device, which is not shown, and thus the upper anode 2 is made movable between the plating position opposite the lower anode 3 and the space 5 for withdrawing an anode. The drive device can have, for example, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a toothed rack mechanism or the like. The guide 7 , the anode support arm 8 , the drive device and the like form the displacement device 6 .

The plating bath 1 has opposite upper edges which extend in the x-axis direction, on which four metal supports 11 A, 11 A and 11 B, 11 B are attached, which each have a V-shaped groove for supporting or La like to define the work piece container unit 21 , as better shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. These metal supports or bearings 11A, 11A and 11B, 11B, which, depending on the case, will be generally designated by a reference number 11 , are isolated from the plating bath 1 . The metal supports 11 are each formed of a metallic material with high electrical conductivity, such as copper or a copper alloy, and a pair of metal supports 11 A, 11 A or 11 B, 11 B are spaced from each other in the x-axis direction and spaced a predetermined distance from the other pair of metal supports 11 B, 11 B or 11 A, 11 A in the y-axis direction. A pair of metal supports 11 A, 11 A is electrically connected to the cathode side of a DC or DC supply source, while the other pair of metal supports 11 B, 11 B is electrically connected to the anode side of the DC or DC supply source .

As shown in Fig. 5, the work piece container unit 21 includes a frame men or a frame 25 which has a rectangular upper frame part 22 and an identically shaped lower frame part 23 , which are connected to each other by upright bracing elements 24 which are arranged at the four corners. The lower frame part 23 has a pair of lower longitudinal members 26 A, 26 B which extend in parallel in the x-axis direction and are spaced apart from each other in the y-axis direction by a predetermined distance, and a pair of lower lateral members 27 , 27 , which extend from opposite ends of one of the lower longitudinal elements 26 A, 26 B to corresponding opposite ends of the other in parallel in the y-axis direction or form an overvoltage. Similarly, the upper frame part 22 has a pair of upper longitudinal elements 28 A, 28 B and a pair of upper lateral elements 29 , 29 . Intermediate lateral members 31 , 31 that extend in parallel in the y-axis direction connect each of the pair of front and rear upstanding strut members 24 , 24 that are spaced in the y-axis direction. A pair of support shafts 32 A, 32 B extend in parallel in the x-axis direction with a predetermined interval therebetween in the y-axis direction to span the intermediate lateral members 31 , 31 . A motor mounting plate 33 is attached to an intermediate lateral member 31 on the right side in the drawing. The frame 25 is made of a stiff synthetic resin, such as stiff vinyl chloride, while the support shafts 32 A, 32 B are made of a metallic material that has a relatively high strength, such as stainless steel or brass .

As shown in FIG. 2, the support shaft 32 A is detachably supported at the front at the V-shaped grooves 12 of the pair of metal supports 11 A, 11 A, which are arranged on the front upper edge of the plating bath 1 are, while the support shaft 32 B is detachably supported at the rear on the V-shaped grooves 12 of the pair of metal supports 11 B, 11 B, which are arranged on the rear upper edge of the plating bath 1 . If the support shafts 32 A, 32 B are mounted in the V-shaped grooves 12 , an electrical connection between the metal supports 11 A, 11 A and the support shaft 32 A and between the metal supports 11 B, 11 B and the support shaft or Bearing shaft 32 B manufactured. Accordingly, the metal supports or bearings and the support or bearing shafts also serve as electrical contacts.

On the upper longitudinal elements 28 A, 28 B of the upper frame part 22 are hook elements 35 with inverted L-shape in an opposite manner, each having an inwardly extending upper part 36 , which defines a V-shaped bulge 37 which opens down.

On the pair of the lower longitudinal members 26 A, 26 B of the lower frame part 23 of the frame 25 , a plurality of electrically conductive rollers 41 are attached, which extend along the y-axis and which are in a row with a predetermined interval in the x-axis direction are arranged to carry workpieces W thereon. As shown in Fig. 6, the lower longitudinal member 26 A has on the front of the front a lower part 38 and an upper part 39 which is liquid-tightly connected to the lower part 38 , at the interface of which a number of Shaft receiving holes are defined, each receiving the corresponding drive shaft portion of each electrically conductive roller 41 through a pair of bearings 43 , 43 and a pair of seal rings 44 , 44 for forward and reverse rotation. Likewise, the lower longitudinal element 26 defines a number B of shaft receiving holes for respectively receiving the other end of a respective electrically conductive roller 41 for rotation.

Between the bearings 43 , 43 , a pair of upper and lower electricity supply members 45 , 45 are arranged in contact with the drive shaft part 42 of a respective electrically conductive roller 41 . As shown in Fig. 8, the electricity supply members 45 , 45 each have a bulge part that has a radius slightly smaller than that of the drive shaft part 42 and a flat part that are continuous with each other and repeated alternately . These feed members 45 , 45 are mated with one another with their respective flat portions abutting to define the shaft receiving holes. Each electricity supply member 45 is formed of an elastic conductive metal material, such as a spring material of a copper alloy. The electricity supply members 45 , 45 are received in a recess extending in the longitudinal (x-axis) direction defined at the center of the interface between the preceding lower part 38 and the preceding upper part 39 . The electricity supply elements 45 , 45 are electrically connected by a line wire (not shown) to the support shaft 32 A, which in turn is electrically connected to the cathode side of the DC or DC power supply for plating. The lead wire is received in a groove (not shown) defined in the intermediate lateral members 31 and the bulge members 24 and fixed therein by means of an insulating fill (not shown) which fills the groove.

As shown in Fig. 6, each of the electrically conductive rollers 41 to the drive shaft portion 42 , which is rotatably supported by the lower longitudinal member 26 A at the front and is contacted by the electricity supply member 45 , and a work piece carrying Roller part 48 which is connected to the rear end of the drive shaft part 42 via a thread. The drive shaft part 42 is provided at its front end part with a worm wheel 47 made of an engineering plastic, and a synthetic sleeve 53 is provided over a rear end part of the drive shaft part 42 to prevent the rear end part is plated. The roller part 48 carrying a work piece, on the other hand, is provided on its rear side with a sliding bush 49 , which is made of synthetic resin with a low coefficient of friction, such as fluoroplastic. The rear side part provided with the bushing 49 is rotatably held in a respective shaft receiving hole of the lower longitudinal element 26 B on the rear side. The rear end portion of a workpiece supporting Wal zenteils 48 projects from the lower longitudinal member 26 B to the outside and defines a flat surface portion, for allowing a tool such as a wrench, engages with this rear end portion in engagement. By gripping the roller part 48 carrying a work piece on this flat surface part with a suitable tool and by rotating it, the roller part 48 carrying a work piece can be easily detached or removed from the drive shaft part 42 . Since the shaft receiving hole is dimensioned such that it receives the sliding bush 49 , the roller part 48 carrying a work piece can be easily removed from the hole even if it is plated with a plating layer.

The electrically conductive rollers 41 are each made of a metal material having a relatively high strength, such as brass or stainless steel, and they each have the drive shaft part 42 in contact with the electricity supply member 45 which is connected to the cathode side of the plating supply source is electrically connected, and thus they function as a cathode. If the electroconductive roller 41 is too thick, the lower side of each work piece is largely shielded from the lower anode 3 by the roller 41 , resulting in reduced plating efficiency. On the other hand, if the electrically conductive roller 41 is too thin, the roller 41 may become susceptible to deformation due to its insufficient strength against some types of workpieces, or may experience difficulties due to reduced friction between the surface of the roller 41 and the workpieces to cause the work pieces to reciprocate as they rotate forward and backward. In view of this, the outer diameter of each electrically conductive roller 41 is determined according to the kind of work pieces. If the workpieces to be plated each have, for example, a relatively low weight, the roller 41 can have an outside diameter of about 2 to 10 mm. Although the plating efficiency is improved as the distance between each pair of adjacent electroconductive rollers 41 becomes larger, it is preferred that the length defined by at least three rollers 41 arranged with a certain interval be equal to the length of each work piece in the machine Direction of movement is to ensure a smooth movement of the work pieces. Otherwise, the preferred distance between each pair of adjacent rollers 41 is determined so that a respective work piece can be constantly carried by two rollers 41 .

A roll cover 51 is provided under each electrically conductive roll 41 to prevent the roll 41 from being plated by the lower anode 3 . This roller cover 51 is supported and supported or supported at U-shaped recesses, which are defined in cover holder plates 42 , which are each attached to the inner sides of the lower longitudinal elements 26 A, 26 B. The upper end of each roller 41 contacting a respective work W is about 1 mm higher than the upper end of the roller cover 51 , and there is a small clearance of about 0.5 to 1 mm between the inner surface of the roller cover 51 and the surface the roller 41 defined. The roller cover may be shaped as desired, without any particular limitation on the U shape. For example, it can be circular in shape with its top end cut off.

When plating the workpieces W which will be carried on the electroconductive rollers 41 serving as the cathode, it is difficult to plate the lower side of each workpiece W due to the presence of the rollers 41 between the lower anode 3 and the workpieces W. . For this reason, to ensure satisfactory plating on the lower side of each work, it is effective to position the lower anode 3 closer to the rollers 41 or to increase the plating current density at the lower anode 3 . Such countermeasures, however, cause the electrically conductive rollers 41 to be plated in a simple manner because the rollers 41 are arranged closer to the lower electrode 3 than the workpieces W. Such a problem can be provided by the roller cover 51 shown in FIG. 7 can be solved, which can prevent the formation of a plating layer on the surface of each roller 41 . Accordingly, the surface smoothness of each roller 41 can be maintained. Although a respective electroconductive roller 41 (the roller member 48 supporting a work piece) needs to be replaced with a new one when the roller 41 is plated with a plating layer in an amount exceeding the allowable limit, the above structure allows the Cycle for such an exchange is extended.

As shown in Fig. 2, a motor 55 and a control box 56 are mounted on the motor mounting plate 33 which is attached to the intermediate lateral member 31 on the right side. On the strut element 24 , which is connected to the intermediate lateral element 31 , a transmission or transmission shaft 59 is rotatably mounted, the opposite ends of which are provided with bevel gear drives 58 , 58 . On the lower front longitudinal element 26 A, a worm shaft 61 is rotatably mounted, which is in engagement with the worm wheel 41 of each electrically conductive roller 41 and which is provided at its end on the right side with a bevel gear 60 , as shown in FIG. 3 . The upper bevel gear 58 is in engagement with a bevel gear 57 , which is coupled to the output shaft of the motor 55 , while the lower bevel gear 58 of the transmission shaft 59 is in engagement with the bevel gear 60 of the worm shaft 61 . Accordingly, the rotation of the output shaft of the motor 55 is transmitted to each electrically conductive roller 41 via the transmission shaft 59 and the worm shaft 61 . It should be noted that the motor 55 , the control box 56 , the transmission shaft 59 , the worm shaft 61 , the worm wheel 47 and the like parts constitute the roller drive means for rotating the electrically conductive rollers back and forth.

The control box 56 includes a motor control circuit for causing the motor 55 to rotate back and forth at a predetermined cycle. This control circuit is connected to the support shaft 32 A on the cathode side and to the support shaft 32 B, which is electrically connected to the anode side of the direct current supply source. Thus, through the metal bearings 11 B, 11 B and the support shaft is then when the work piece tank unit 21 is fitted in the plating bath 1, 32 B applied electricity to the control circuit to control the motor 55th

The carrier 71 has the lifting arm 72 , which can raise and lower relative to the main body, which is slidably mounted on the carrier rail 70 . The lifting arm 72 performs lifting and lowering movements relative to the main body of the retraction beam 71, for example, by expansion and retraction movements of a piston rod, which are caused by a hydraulic cylinder, or by winding and developing movements of a wire rope. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lifting arm 72 has a lower end part with a pair of hanging shafts 74 , 74 on the front and rear sides with respect to the y-axis direction, the hanging shafts 74 , 74 with the pair of hook elements 35 , 35 can be brought into engagement at their V-shaped bulges.

The lifting arm 72 rises and falls between a lower limit position, at which each suspension shaft 74 is arranged between the upper part 36 of a respective hook element 35 and the upper end of the upper frame part 22 of the work piece container unit 21 , and an upper limit position which the work piece container unit 21 , which is suspended by the hanging shafts 74 , 74 , which are engaged with the hook elements 35 in their V-shaped bulges 37 , does not disturb the upper end of another work piece container unit 21 in such a state, in which it is seen in the plating bath 1 or the like. Accordingly, the lifting arm 72 can, when the lifting arm is located at the lower limit position 72, move without the Arbeitsstück- container unit to disturb 21 which is provided like in the plating bath or 1. Furthermore, the workpiece holder unit 21 can be raised by causing the lifting arm 72 to rise to the fitting position of the workpiece holder unit 21 . When the main body of the carrier 71 is moved to a target position at the upper limit position with the lift arm 72 on which the work piece container unit 21 is suspended, and the lift arm 72 is then caused to drop to the lower limit position, the work piece container unit can 21 can be inserted into a target treatment bath or chamber. It need not be said that the metal supports, which are adapted to engage and support the support shafts 32 A, 32 B, must be provided at the top of the target treatment bath or chamber before the Ar work piece container unit 21 in the treatment bath or chamber is inserted. It should be noted here that the carrier is equivalent to the conveyor of the invention.

The plating system is provided with a control device for controlling the entire system. As shown in FIG. 9, the control device includes a main control unit 81 having a CPU 82 , a ROM 83 , a RAM 84 and a control interface 85 , the main control unit 81 being connected to a control panel 86 to be operated by an operator to become. The operator inputs data of a plating process to the main control unit 81 via the control panel 86 , and the data thus input is stored in the ROM 83 so that the CPU 82 can output control signals.

With the main control unit 81 are an upper anode current control section 81 , a lower anode current control section 92 , a carrier control section 93 , a displacement control section 94 for controlling the displacement of the upper anode 2 , an ultrasonic cleaning control section (not shown) for control ultrasonic cleaning devices provided in the ultrasonic water washing baths 104 and 106 , respectively, and a drying control section (not shown) for controlling a hot air blower adapted to supply hot air into the drying chamber 108 . Each of these control sections receives control signals from the main control unit 81 . Direct current supply source 90 , which is suitable for supplying direct current plating, is assigned to upper anode current control section 91 and lower anode current control section 92 . The DC power supply 90 is on its odode side also connected to the metal supports 11 B, 11 B, which serve as anode con nections to the plating bath 1 or the like. Furthermore, the DC power supply 90 is connected on its cathode side to the cathode side of the upper anode current control section 91 and the lower anode current control section 92 , respectively, and further to the metal supports 11 A, 11 A, which act as cathode fittings for the plating bath 1 or the like serve.

Subsequently, that by the plating system according to the first embodiment Example performed plating process described.  

First, workpieces W are placed on the electrically conductive rollers 41 at a suitable distance from each other in the workpiece container unit 21 . The work piece container unit 21 containing the work pieces W is placed on the station 101 for carrying in. Then the carrier 71 lifts the work piece container unit 21 , conveys it to a place above the acid washing bath 102, and causes the lifting arm 72 to lower to insert the work piece container unit 21 into the bath 102 . After a lapse of a predetermined period of time, the carrier 71 causes the lifting arm 72 to raise again to thereby lift the work container unit 21 upward, conveys it to the first water washing bath 103, and inserts it therein. During the treatment, the electroconductive rollers 41 are rotated back and forth to cause the workpieces W to reciprocate in the x-axis direction. Likewise, after the workpieces W have been subjected to ultrasonic cleaning for removing contamination attached to them in the first ultrasonic water washing bath 104 , the carrier 71 transfers the working piece container unit 21 to the plating bath 1 and inserts them therein.

While the lifting arm 72 of the carrier 71 inserts the work piece container unit 21 into the plating bath 1 , the upper anode 2 is withdrawn into the retraction space 5 . After this insertion operation is completed, the anode support arm 8 proceeds to move the upper anode 2 to a position opposite to the lower anode 3 before plating. In the plating process, the work pieces W carried on the electroconductive rollers 41 are caused to reciprocate in the x-axis direction according to a forward and backward rotation of the rollers 41 . In the case where the roller cover 51 is provided, the distance of such reciprocation of the work pieces W is at least substantially the same as the width of the roller cover 51 . However, if the distance for reciprocation is too large, the number of workpieces W that can be placed on the electrically conductive rollers 41 becomes undesirably small. In the case where the plating process is carried out without using the roll cover 51 , the distance for a reciprocating movement is preferably the same as the diameter of each electrically conductive roll 41 . The reciprocation distance is controlled by setting a forward-reverse switching timer provided in the motor control circuit of this embodiment. For each work piece W to be plated with a plating layer having a uniform thickness on its upper and lower sides, the current density at each of the upper and lower anodes 2 and 3 can be controlled.

After a predetermined treatment period has elapsed, the anode support arm 8 is moved back in order to retract the upper anode 2 into the retraction space 5 . Then, the carrier 71 causes the lifting arm 77 to raise, thereby lifting the work piece container unit 21 upward, and conveys the work piece container unit 21 to the second water wash bath 104 , the second ultrasonic water wash bath 105 , and the third one at a time Water wash bath 107 and the drying chamber 108 and inserts them there so that the workpieces W are subjected to a respective treatment. Thereafter, the work piece container unit 21 is conveyed to the station 109 for carrying out, and the work pieces that are finished with plating are unloaded from the work piece container unit 21 .

If such a plating process is repeated, a plating layer is inevitably deposited to a greater extent and grown on the surface of each electrically conductive roller 41 . When such an unavoidable plating layer is grown to have a thickness exceeding a given value, it comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the roller cover 51 or roughenes the roller surface to provide the electrical conductivity over the rollers 41 and To change workpieces W, with the result that the workpieces W are not plated uniformly. In view of this, the work-carrying roller portion 48 of each electrically conductive roller 41 is replaced with a new one when the thickness of such a plating layer on the roller surface reaches a predetermined value. Since the plating system according to this embodiment is provided with the plating layer removing bath 110 for dissolving and removing a plating layer deposited on each electrically conductive roller 41 , such a plating layer can be plunged together with the electrically conductive rollers 41 by immersing the workpiece holder unit 21 into the plating layer removal bath 110 . This feature is particularly advantageous where a respective electrically conductive roller 41 is of a one-piece type that cannot be split.

The present invention is not based on the foregoing first embodiment limited. For example, the following changes and variations are possible.

Although in the first embodiment, the upper and lower anode 2 and 3 are arranged above and below the intermediate electrically conductive rollers 41 to perform plating, these anodes may be attached to side walls of the plating bath 1 or may be integrated in an anode. If the upper anode 2 used in the first embodiment is eliminated, the shifting means for shifting the upper anode 2 becomes unnecessary.

Further, although the first embodiment uses the carrier 71 as the means for conveying the work container unit 21 to a respective treatment site, any suitable alternative means such as an overhead crane or an electric hoist can be used.

While the first embodiment uses the intermediate gear mechanism as the means for rotationally driving the electroconductive rollers 41 , such an arrangement can be adopted that each roller 41 is provided with a gear instead of the work gear 47 and a chain around the gear is pulled around to turn it back and forth by means of the motor.

In the first embodiment, a single DC power supply source is provided, supply source plating also serves both as a Motorsteue approximately supply source, and the pair of metal supports 11 A, 11 A, which are spaced apart in the x-axis direction, and the corresponding pair of metal supports 11 B, 11 B, which are spaced in the x-axis direction, are electrically connected to the cathode side and the anode side of the DC power source, respectively. Instead of this structure, a supply source that is to be used exclusively for motor control can be provided separately. In this case, such a structure or arrangement can be used that the plating bath 1 is provided with a pair of conductive pieces that are electrically connected to the anode side and the cathode side of this supply source, respectively, while the work piece container unit 21st is provided with a corresponding pair of electrical receptacles which are brought into contact with the conductive pieces as a counterpart when the work piece container unit 21 is inserted into the plating bath 1 . In this case, it is possible to use an AC power source as the motor control power source.

Furthermore, the number of treatment baths, such as acid wash baths and water wash baths, which contain the first embodiment is suitable to be varied. For example, a variety of plating baths are used to perform a lower end plating process or Bo den (a semi-gloss plating) and a top-end plating process (a Gloss plating). Furthermore, although the plating system according to the first embodiment is configured to a number of treatments lungs in the treatment baths and the chamber on a work piece Container base to perform the pre-plating treatments (a wash with Acid and a wash with water) and post-plating treatments (a Washing with water and drying) carried out by separate systems the.

Now, a plating system as the second embodiment of the present Invention described.

Fig. 10 shows the overall configuration of the plating system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. For the convenience of illustration, according to the coordinate system in Fig. 10, the direction in which work pieces W are conveyed is called "x-axis direction" or "longitudinal direction" the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction in a horizontal plane including the conveying direction will be called "y-axis direction" or "lateral direction".

The plating system includes a plating bath 201 which forms a main part of the plating system, a water washing chamber 291 with a plurality of shower nozzles, an air blower chamber 292 with a plurality of air nozzles, a drying chamber 293 with a plurality of hot air inlets and a container box 294 for accommodating the workpieces W. which have undergone a series of treatments arranged in the linear direction in the x-axis direction. For the sake of convenience, the chambers including the water wash chamber 291 , air blower chamber 292 and drying chamber 293 will sometimes be referred to collectively as "treatment chamber (s)" without distinction.

As shown in Fig. 11, the plating system includes the plating bath 201 which contains a plating solution. The plating bath 201 is hen with a lot of number of electrically conductive rollers 41 for conveying the workpieces W hen. These electrically conductive rollers 41 each have an axis extending in the y-axis direction, and are arranged in a row with a predetermined interval in the x-axis direction. The rollers 41 are immersed in the plating solution. Like those shown in Fig. 6, the electrically conductive rollers 41 are supported by a pair of longitudinal members (corresponding to the elements 26 A, 26 B in Fig. 5) which are parallel in the x-axis direction extend a predetermined distance therebetween in the y-axis direction for forward and backward rotation and are electrically connected to the cathode side of a plating supply source through an electricity supply member (corresponding to members 45 , 45 in Fig. 6) which is inside the front Longitudinal elements (corresponding to Fig. 26A) is provided. The longitudinal elements are connected to one another at their opposite ends and middle parts by lateral elements (corresponding to elements 27 in FIG. 5). These lateral elements are arranged so that their upper end is lower than the workpiece carrying (or workpiece conveying) plane defined by the electrically conductive rollers 41 , whereby the lateral elements do not interfere with the workpiece conveyed by the rollers 41 .

The electroconductive rollers 41 are driven by a roller drive motor (not shown) located outside the plating bath 201 via a suitable transmission mechanism. Since each electrically conductive roller has the same configuration as that used in the first embodiment, the same reference numeral as in the first embodiment is used to designate it.

Upper and lower anodes 202 and 203 are removably attached to the plating bath 201 at locations above and below the electrically conductive rollers 41 . The upper and lower anodes 202 and 203 have the same configurations as those used in the first embodiment.

The plating bath 201 has a side wall 211 for carrying in on an upstream side in the conveying direction, the side wall 211 for carrying in defining an inlet 212 which has a height to allow a flat work piece W to pass therethrough and a width which is substantially equal to the length of each roller 41 . A side wall 213 for carrying out the plating bath 201 on a downstream side in the conveying direction defines an outlet 214 of the same configuration as that of the inlet 212 . The side wall 211 is provided for carrying in and the side wall are gene to Hinaustra 214 with respective leak-prevention devices 221 and 222 to prevent the plating solution in the plating bath 201 runs out of the bath 201 through the inlet 212 or the outlet 214 when the by the electrically conductive rollers 41 conveyed workpieces W run through the inlet 212 or the outlet 214 .

As shown in Figs. 11 to 13, the leak preventive devices 221 and 222 each have a pair of upper and lower leak preventive rollers 224 and 225 which face each other and in parallel over the work-conveying plane of the electroconductive rollers 41 are positioned so that their respective outer peripheral surfaces abut each other. The leak prevention rollers 224 , 225 are rotatably supported by side wall parts 227 , 227 of a frame member 226 made of a rigid synthetic resin. The lower leak prevention roller 225 has a roller shaft 231 , one end of which is provided with a first gear 232 which is coupled to a motor (not shown) for lockingly driving the leak prevention rollers, and the other end of which is coupled to one second gear 233 is seen ver. The upper leak prevention roller 224 has a roller shaft 231 , one end of which is provided with a driven gear 234 that is the same as the second gear 233 in terms of a number of teeth and a pitch diameter and is engaged with the second gear 233 . Accordingly, when the lower leak prevention roller 225 rotates in one direction to convey the workpieces W toward the downstream side (in the conveying direction), the upper leak prevention roller 224 also rotates in the conveying direction at a speed of which is equal to the speed of rotation of the lower roller 225 . The leak prevention rollers 224 , 225 each have a flexible layer 236 formed around the respective roller shaft 231 , the flexible layer 236 being formed from a flexible material such as a foamed synthetic resin such as a foamed urethane rubber or a foamed silicone rubber, which is elastically deformable according to the profile of a respective work piece W on the contact parts of the rollers 224 and 225 .

The frame member 226 further has an upper wall 228 and a lower wall 229 , each provided with sealing members 238 and 239 , each abutting the outer peripheral surface of a respective roller 224 or 225 to prevent a liquid from flowing out. A layer (not shown) of resin having a low coefficient of friction, such as fluoroplastic, is attached to an inner surface of each of the sealing members 238 , 239 that abut the rollers 224 , 225 and share on an inner surface of a respective one of the side walls 227 , 227 , thereby reducing the frictional resistance on the abutment parts and thus slowing down wear on them.

As shown in FIG. 11, the plating bath 201 is further provided with a circulation device for collecting parts of the plating solution that are unavoidably discharged when the workpieces W pass through the leak preventing device 221 or 222 and for circulating from them back to plating bath 201 . The circulating means includes auxiliary tanks 216, 217 on which the side wall are provided at the side wall 211 for carrying in and attached 213 to carry out to accommodate unavoidable excluded parts of the plating solution for temporary storage, and a reflux pump 219, which each in communication with the ground Auxiliary tanks 216 or 217 is connected to return the plating solution stored in the auxiliary tanks 216 , 217 to the plating bath 1 through a reflux pipe 218 .

Returning to Fig. 10, each of the treatment chambers including the water washing chamber 291 has a side wall to be carried in on the upstream side in the conveying direction and a side wall to be carried out in the downstream side. The carry-in sidewall and carry-out sidewall each define an inlet and an outlet, such as inlet 212 and outlet 214 of plating bath 201 . Between the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of conveying rollers 241 for conveying the work pieces W are arranged, which are carried through the inlet towards the outlet into the chamber. Also between adjacent treatment sites, such as between the plating bath 201 and the Wasserwaschkam mer 291 and on the side for carrying out the drying chamber 293, conveying rollers 242 for conveying the workpieces W are arranged in the direction of the downstream side. These conveying rollers 241 , 242 are driven by a conveying roller drive motor (not shown). Further, on the side for carrying in the plating bath 201, there are arranged rollers 243 for carrying in, which are driven by a motor for driving rollers for carrying in (not shown), for conveying the workpieces W into the plating bath 201 .

The plating system according to this embodiment is provided with a control device for controlling the entire plating system. As shown in Fig. 14, the control device includes a main control unit 251 having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and a control interface and is connected to a control panel 252 which is to be operated by an operator.

Connected to the main control unit 251 are an upper anode current control section 254 , a lower anode current control section 255 , a motor control section 257 for driving rollers for in-feed, a motor control section 258 for driving leak prevention rollers on the in-feed side , a motor control section 259 for driving electroconductive rollers, a motor control section 260 for driving leak prevention rollers on the discharge side, a conveying roller drive motor control section 261 , a reflux pump control section 262 for operating the reflux pump 219 when a predetermined amount of plating solution is accumulated in the auxiliary tanks 216 , 217 , a wash water control section (not shown) for controlling an electromagnetic valve that performs and stops supplying wash water to spray nozzles of the water wash chamber 291 , an air control section ( not shown t) for controlling an electric valve that performs and stops supplying air to the air nozzles of the air blower chamber 292 , and a drying control section (not shown) for controlling the hot air blower capable of supplying hot air to the drying chamber 293 . These control sections receive control signals from the main control unit 251 . A DC supply source 270 is assigned to the upper anode current control section 254 and the lower anode current control section 255 for supplying a plating DC current to them. The cathode side of this DC power supply 270 is connected to the cathode sides of the upper anode current control section 254 and the lower anode current control section 255 , which in turn are electrically connected to the electricity supply member 45 in contact with the drive shaft part 42 of a respective electrically conductive roller 41 .

The plating process is carried out by the plating system according to the second Embodiment performed in the following manner.

First, the feed rollers 243 , the electroconductive rollers 41, and the leak prevention rollers 224 , 225 of the leak prevention device 221 on the carry-in side are driven to rotate in the conveying direction. Then, workpieces W, the surfaces of which have been cleaned by washing treatments such as acid washing, are placed on the conveying rollers 243 and then sequentially conveyed through the contact parts of the leak preventing rollers 224 , 225 to the electrically conductive rollers 41 in the plating bath 201 as shown in Fig. 11. Once a predetermined number of workpieces W are placed on the electroconductive rollers 41 in the plating bath 41 , the leak prevention rollers 224 , 225 and the conveying rollers 234 are made to stop rotating to feed workpieces W into the plating bath 201 to stop. Then, the work pieces W are subjected to plating while the electroconductive rollers 41 are alternately rotated back and forth in the plating bath 201 to reciprocate the work pieces W on the electroconductive rollers 41 in the conveying direction. As in the first embodiment, the distance of such reciprocation of the workpieces W is preferably substantially equal to the width of the roll cover when used, or substantially equal to the diameter of each electrically conductive roll 41 when the roll cover is not used. For each work piece W to be plated with a plating layer having a uniform thickness on its upper side and lower side, it is preferable that the current density at each of the upper and lower anodes 202 and 203 be controlled as required is.

Once plating in the plating bath 201 has been completed, the electroconductive rollers 41 , the leak prevention rollers 224 , 225 of the leak prevention device 222 on the discharge side, and the conveyance rollers 241 , 242 are driven to move in the conveying direction rotate so that the work pieces W thus plated are conveyed from the plating bath 201 toward the subsequent treatment chambers, such as the water washing chamber 291 , on the downstream side. At the same time, the leak preventive rollers 224 , 225 on the carry-in side and the carry-in rollers 243 are driven to rotate again to feed another group of workpieces W to be plated into the plating bath 201 . After a predetermined number of workpieces W to be plated are fed into the plating bath 201 , these workpieces W are subjected to plating while being reciprocated in the conveying direction as described above. On the other hand, the group of plated workpieces W is washed with water in the water washing chamber 291 , carried into the air blowing chamber 292 where a water mass of the workpieces W is drained by an air flow, dried by hot air in the drying chamber 293 , and conveyed into the container box 294 and there saved or stored. Once the last work W has been carried out of each treatment chamber, the treatment operation therein, for example, supplying washing water to the water washing chamber 291 , is stopped. The conveying rollers 241 , 242 are also stopped when all workpieces W in one group have been carried out of the drying chamber 293 .

The plating system according to the second embodiment is for the present not intended limiting invention. For example, the following are Changes and variations possible.

As with a variation of the first embodiment, the second embodiment can be varied so that the anodes are attached to the side walls of the plating bath 201 . Furthermore, the transmission device for transmitting rotational power to each electrically conductive roller 41 can have a chain.

Although the leakage prevention devices 221 , 222 are respectively arranged on the outer sides of the side wall 211 for carrying in and the side wall 213 for carrying out in the second exemplary embodiment, they can each be arranged on the inner sides of these side walls 211 , 213 . Furthermore, these leakage prevention devices 221 , 222 can be eliminated. In this case, inlet 212 and outlet 214 are desirably made as small as possible and as close as possible to the liquid level. Instead of the auxiliary tanks 216 , 217 which are attached to the side wall 211 for carrying in and the side wall 213 for carrying out the plating bath 201 , it is possible to use a tank to hold the entire plating bath 201 .

In the second embodiment, plating is performed, while a group of workpieces W in the plating bath back 201 in the conveying direction and is reciprocated by the electrically conductive rollers 41 in the plating bath 201 forward and reversely rotated. However, such an alternate structure is possible that the rollers 243 for carrying in are caused to rotate, the electroconductive rollers 41 and the conveying rollers 241 , 242 in succession to continuously work pieces W from the rollers 243 for carrying in to a row a treatment bath and treatment chambers without causing the electroconductive rollers 241 to rotate forward and backward, thereby continuously performing the plating treatment, the water washing treatment, the air blowing treatment, and the drying treatment.

Although the conveying rollers 241 , 242 are controlled as a whole in the second embodiment, the conveying rollers 241 in each treatment chamber and the conveying chamber 242 located directly upstream of that treatment chamber can be controlled as a pair. In this case, the pair of conveying rollers 241 , 242 can be stopped in and upstream of each treatment chamber when all the workpieces W in a group have been led out of that chamber. 31408 00070 552 001000280000000200012000285913129700040 0002010063624 00004 31289

Furthermore, the plating system according to the second embodiment can use a water washing bath of substantially the same configuration as the plating bath 201 as a replacement for the water washing chamber 291 . In this case, a one-piece type conveying roller may be used in place of an assembled type electroconductive roller provided with the electricity supply member 45 . On the upstream side of the plating bath 201 , such a water wash bath or acid wash bath of the same configuration as that of the water wash bath may be provided. Furthermore, the treatments (washing with water and drying) following the plating process can be carried out by separate treatment systems.

In the plating system according to any one of the first and second Embodiment can reduce the plating quality due to some causes which are described below. Therefore, the platter system of the invention with additional structures (to be described later ) to eliminate such quality deteriorating reasons and Improve the plating quality.

When plating workpieces W arranged on the electroconductive rollers 41 , fine dirt in the plating solution contained in the plating bath 1 or 201 falls on and adheres to the upper side of each workpiece W. If such fine dirt adheres even in traces to a surface of a respective work piece, a plating layer grows around such fine dirt serving as cores, and thus non-uniformity results on the plating layer covering the top of the work piece, thereby causing the Surface is made rough. Such a rough surface not only affects the appearance of a finished product, but also traps fine dirt due to its unevenness. There may be a case where such fine stains trapped by a rough surface are not appropriately removed by the post-plating treatments. When such an unsatisfactorily plated article is contained in an electronic device, the fine stains left on the surface of the plated article serve as contaminants which deteriorate the performance of the electronic device.

Such fine contaminants contain fine particles of a releasable electrode material used to form the upper anode, which are generated as the releasable electrode material that dissolves during plating, and dust contained in the plating solution from the outside air . Arbeitsstück- the container unit 21 inserted in particular in the first embodiment, wherein in the plating bath 1 and is removed therefrom, the plating bath 1 inevitably has an open upper end which permits that dust is contained in the plating solution contained therein.

The outer peripheral surface of each electrically conductive roller 41 or the lower upper surface of each work piece is plated in different states. For this reason, when a number of workpieces W are arranged on the electrically conductive rollers 41 , the workpieces conveyed or reciprocated by the rollers 41 can be set along the roller axis (y-axis) to contact each other. This causes such a contacted part of a respective work piece to be plated with a thinner plating layer or may not be plated, resulting in deteriorated plating quality.

Furthermore, workpieces that are arranged adjacent to a peripheral edge of the work piece-carrying region defined by the electroconductive roller 41 each tend to be plated with a thicker plating layer at a corner portion thereof closer to the peripheral edge become. In particular, a plating current probably of each concentrated at a corner portion E of workpieces W that are arranged adjacent to any one of the un direct longitudinal members 26 A, 26 B and the lower lateral elements 27, 27 (see Fig. 5) of the lower frame part 23, as shown in Fig. 20, wherein the corner part E is opposed to such a longitudinal element or such a lateral element. Accordingly, the corner part E is plated with a particularly thickened plating layer. In this way, the formation of a plating layer is inconsistent due to different arrangements of workpieces in the supporting area.

Additional structures for preventing deterioration in plating quality due to fine dirt adhering to each work piece to ensure an improved plating quality, which will be described below with reference to the first embodiment. Such an additional structure, which may be provided, has a mesh member 301 arranged to cover the lower side of the upper anode 2 , as shown in Fig. 15, to thereby prevent its particles from the detachable electrode material drop from the upper anode 2 onto workpieces. This network element 301 is attached to the housing for accommodating electrode material of the upper anode 2 by means of fasteners 302 .

The mesh member 301 has a mesh size to allow a plating metal ion to pass through but which blocks fine particles of the electrode material resulting from dissolution of the detachable electrode material of the upper anode 2 . The mesh element 301 can have a porous material, such as, for example, a mesh, a woven fiber or a non-woven fiber, with a mesh size of, for example, several micrometers or less. Such a porous material may be formed from a synthetic resin having a superior corrosion resistance and heat resistance such as fluoroplastic, a volatile corrosion-resistant metal material such as a stainless steel or a nickel alloy, or a non-detachable electrode material such as platinum or Titanium. In the case where the porous material is made of metal material that is releasable during plating, such as stainless steel, the fasteners 302 are made of insulating material, such as synthetic resin.

Although the mesh element 301 shown is attached below the upper electrode 2 by means of the fasteners 302 , the mesh element can be arranged on the bottom of the housing for accommodating electrode material of the upper anode 2 . In this case, too, the mesh element has porous material which is formed from synthetic resin, or insoluble electrode material.

Of course, there is no need to provide the mesh element 302 if the electrode material of the upper anode 2 is insoluble material, such as platinum, titanium or iridium, which will not dissolve and thus will not produce fine particles from it.

In this case, the plating metal ion concentration of the plating solution varies in the plating process. For this reason, it is desirable that a chemical replenisher be provided to have an appropriate means for reducing plating metal ion. As shown in FIG. 15, such a chemical replenisher 304 includes a concentration detector 305 for detecting the plating metal ion concentration and a flow control valve 306 for supplying a chemical liquid having a high plating metal ion concentration from a chemical tank (not shown) to the plating bath 1 . The flow of chemical liquid through the flow control valve 306 is controlled by a valve controller so that the concentration detected by the concentration detector 305 constantly takes a predetermined value.

Another additional structure, which may be provided alone or in combination with the network element 301 to improve the plating quality, has a filter device 311 for filtering the plating solution contained in the plating bath 1 , as shown in FIG. 15.

The filter device 311 has a circulation channel 312 , which connects an inflow connection, which is defined in a bottom part of the plating bath, and an outflow connection, which is defined in an upper part of a side wall of the plating bath, in order to provide a communication connection therebetween. a pump 313 which is part of the circulation channel 312, and a filter 315 which is provided in the channel 312th The circulation channel 312 is provided with a heater 314 for heating the plating solution at a location downstream of the pump 313 . The filter 315 is arranged downstream of the heater 314 .

The filter 315 serves to remove fine particles of the electrode material and fine contaminants contained in the plating solution, and thus has a mesh size of a few micrometers or less, and preferably one micrometer or less.

It is recommended that the outflow port be in communication with the circulation channel 312 over work pieces arranged on the electrically conductive rollers 41 of the work piece container unit 21 . The outflow port thus arranged permits the plating solution, which is cleaned by the filter 315 by removing contaminants therefrom, to flow into the plating bath 1 from a position above the work pieces, to thereby stir a part of the plating solution which is above the Workpieces are present in order to effectively prevent fine dirt from adhering to the upper side of a respective workpiece.

The output of the heater 316 is controlled in response to temperature signals from a solution temperature sensor 318 provided in the plating bath 1 so that the temperature of the plating solution becomes a target temperature set by a temperature setting unit (not shown).

Another additional structure for preventing is described below deterioration in plating quality due to a change mutual contact between workpieces can be provided to thereby ensure improved plating quality.

Such additional structure has a conveyance guide that is removably mounted on the lower frame part 23 to prevent moving through the electrically conductive rollers 41 in the x-axis direction of the working pieces are displaced along the axis of a respective roller 41, thereby preventing that neighboring work pieces contact each other. This additional structure can prevent mutual contact between workpieces, and thus a plating defect due to such mutual contact.

An example of such a transportation guide is shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. This conveyor guide 321 has a plurality of support members 322 which extend between the lower longitudinal members 26 A and 26 B of the lower frame part 23 of the frame 25 which forms the work piece container unit 21 , and a plurality of guide plates 322 which on the are attached to the lower side of the support members 322 as they extend in the x-axis direction between the lower la teral elements 27 , 27 (see FIG. 5). Each of the support members 322 has opposite ends to which a positioning member 324 is attached, which engages with the inner surface of a respective one of the lower longitudinal members 26 A, 26 B at a location adjacent to the upper end thereof.

The guide plates 322 each have a lower edge that is positioned lower than the upper end of a respective electrically conductive roller 41 and is formed with pointed bulges on parts that the corresponding one of the rollers 41 intersects. The inner periphery of each pointed bulge and the outer periphery of the corresponding roller 41 define a clearance therebetween that is smaller than the thickness of a respective work piece W.

The support members 322 and the positioning members 324 are preferably made of an extremely strong and corrosion-resistant synthetic resin, such as rigid vinyl chloride resin. The guide plates 323 are preferably made of synthetic resin, such as fluoroplastic, with a low coefficient of friction and the foregoing properties required for the support members 322 .

Although the shown guide plate 323 has a plurality of protrusions to avoid interference with the corresponding roller 41 , it is possible to use a guide plate which is not formed with such protrusions and which has a lower edge which is in contact with a free space is smaller than the thickness of a respective work piece W, is spaced from the upper end of the corresponding roller 41 .

Another example of a transportation guide is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. This transport guide 321 A has a plurality of support elements 322 , which extend or stretch between the lower longitudinal elements 26 A and 26 B of the lower frame part 23 of the frame 25 , a plurality of mounting plates 326 , which on the lower side of the support elements 322 are attached, as they extend in the x-axis direction between the lower lateral elements 27 , 27 (see FIG. 5), and a plurality of guide rollers 327 , which are attached to the underside of the mounting plates 326 . Each of the support members 322 has opposite ends, at each of which a positioning element 324 for achieving a positioning of workpieces W is attached along the axis of a respective electrically conductive roller 41 . The same reference numerals as used to determine parts of the conveyor 321 denote the same or corresponding parts of the conveyor 321 A.

The guide rollers 327 are each arranged between adjacent electrically conductive rollers 41 and each have a roller shaft 328 which is attached to the corresponding one of the mounting plates 326 , with its central axis extending downward from the plate 326 , and a roller body 329 , which is rotatably mounted on the roller shaft 328 and has a lower end which is positioned lower than the upper end of a respective electrically conductive roller 41 . The roller shaft 328 is made of corrosion-resistant material, such as stainless steel, while the roller body 329 is preferably made of synthetic resin with a low coefficient of friction, such as fluoroplastic.

This conveyance guide 321 A can prevent workpieces W which are adjacent to each other along the axis of a respective electroconductive roller 41 from contacting each other, each guide roller 327 thereof coming into mere point contact with a respective workpiece W if so is. The conveyance guide 321 A has another advantage that a plat animals on side surfaces of workpieces W, which are between adjacent Füh approximately rollers 327 , is not hindered.

Although the illustrated guide rollers 329 , each having the roller body 329 , are rotatably mounted on the mounting plates 326 , it is possible, instead of the guide rollers 329 , to mount guide shafts, which are each free of such a roller body, on the mounting plates 326 . In this case, a respective guide shaft is preferably made of synthetic resin with a superior corrosion resistance and a low coefficient of friction, such as fluoroplastic.

The following describes another additional structure that may be provided to prevent the formation of a non-uniform plating layer attributable to the location of each work on the electrically conductive rollers, based on the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 20, has such an additional structure replacement work pieces 331, which with the cathode side of the plating DC power supply source are electrically connected to inner sides of the lower longitudinal members 26 A, 26 B and the lower lateral elemene te 27 , 27 of the lower frame part 23 are arranged.

The provision of the replacement workpieces 331 makes it possible to cause a plating current which would otherwise concentrate at the corner part E of a work piece W which is located adjacent to a peripheral edge of the work piece supporting portion which is passed through the electrically conductive rollers 41 is defined to partially escape toward the replacement workpieces 331 , thereby preventing a plating stream from being concentrated at the corner part E. Accordingly, the work pieces W can be plated uniformly regardless of the arrangement of each work piece on the electrically conductive rollers 41 .

Measures to prevent the formation of a non-uniform plating layer may as well as the provision of the replacement workpieces 331 include an arrangement in which the upper anode 2 is curved to be more distant from the electrically conductive rollers 41 at a peripheral location than at a central location in the work-carrying area. Alternatively, the housing for housing electrode material of the upper anode 2 can accommodate a smaller amount of electrode material in a part closer to a respective peripheral edge of the work-carrying area than in a part closer to the center of the work-carrying area Area is. Of these measures, the provision of the replacement work pieces is recommended because it is more convenient than other measures and it can easily optimize the plating condition by replacing the replacement work pieces with suitable alternative replacement work pieces different from those the former in terms of size and shape.

The conveyance guide (321A in the drawing) provided in the structure shown in Fig. 20 is not necessarily required. In the case where a conveyance guide is provided, the guide rollers 327 or the guide plates 322 may be arranged so that they are between a series of replacement workpieces 331 on a respective one of the lower longitudinal members 26 A, 26 B and work pieces W which are arranged adjacent to a respective one of the lower longitudinal elements 26 A, 26 B.

The following description relates to an additional structure that may be provided to prevent mutual contact between workpieces located adjacent to each other in the conveying direction and along the axis of each roller 41 , thereby causing deterioration in plating quality to prevent such mutual contact of neighboring workpieces. This structure is particularly advantageous where a particular work piece is flat and small or asymmetrical with respect to the direction of conveyance.

Fig. 21 shows a carrying case 341 as an example of such an additional structure, which has a flat bottom and which can be carried on the electrically conductive rollers 41 and moved by rotating the rollers 41 . The transport container 341 has a rectangular outer frame 342 and a grid which is formed within the outer frame 342 , the grid having longitudinal cross pieces 343 which extend in the direction of transport, and lateral cross pieces 344 which the longitudinal cross pieces 343 in a vertical direction Cut direction. The longitudinal and lateral cross pieces 343 and 344 serve as compartments defining a plurality of work piece spaces 345 , each of which is rectangular in plan view and extends through the transport container 341 in its thickness direction. The work piece accommodating spaces 345 are each adapted to house a respective work piece W individually, and are each dimensioned such that they have an appropriate distance between the outer periphery of the work piece W housed therein and the inner surfaces of the longitudinal and lateral cross pieces 343 and 344 that define a respective space 345 for accommodating workpieces. Although each of the work space shown 345 is rectangular, it may be configured in any suitable shape, such as a circular shape.

The lateral width of the transport container 341 in the direction in which the lateral cross pieces 344 extend substantially coincides with the inner width of the lower frame part 23 in the y-axis direction, while the longitudinal width of the transport container 341 in the direction in which the longitudinal cross pieces 343 extend to allow the container 341 to reciprocate within the lower frame member 23 in the direction of travel. The thickness of the transport container 341 is not less than about a few millimeters and not more than about twice the thickness of a respective workpiece W. Preferably, the thickness of the transport container 341 is substantially the same as that of a respective workpiece W. The transport container 341 is normally made of synthetic resin with satisfactory corrosion resistance and heat resistance, such as stiff vinyl chloride, but can be made of a metal material such as brass or stainless steel. In the latter case, the bottom surface of the transport container 341 and the inner surfaces of the longitudinal and lateral cross pieces 343 and 344 are covered with an insulating material, such as with synthetic resin.

During operation of the transport container is placed 341 on the electrically conductive rollers 41, and then the working pieces W are zen on the electrically conductive Wal 41 disposed so as to be individually in respective spaces 345 housed for accommodating work pieces. Subsequently, the electrically conductive rollers 41 are rotated to move the transport container 341 together with the work pieces W housed therein. Even if there is a difference in a moving speed between the workpieces W, the longitudinal crosspieces 343 and the lateral crosspieces 344 can surely prevent the workpieces W from contacting each other while the movement or the conveyance of the workpieces W is stabilized. Thus, the provision of the carrying case 341 makes it possible to prevent deterioration in plating quality and stabilizes the plating quality.

Like the plating system according to the first embodiment, the plating system according to the second embodiment can be provided with an additional structure for improving the plating quality, for example with the mesh element 301 , which is attached to the upper anode 202 , or the filter device belonging to the plating bath 201 311 as shown in FIG. 15. Likewise, the second embodiment can be provided with the conveyance guide 321 or 321 A shown in Figs. 16 to 19. Furthermore, the replacement workpieces 331 shown in FIG. 20 can be seen in the second embodiment. In this case, the replacement workpieces 331 are only arranged at opposite lateral edges of the region carrying a workpiece, which is defined by the electrically conductive rollers 41 , namely the longitudinal elements (equivalent to the elements 26 A, 26 B in FIG. 5 ) because there is a limitation that the lateral elements (equivalent to elements 27 in Fig. 5) are required to be arranged so that their upper ends are positioned lower than the plane carrying a work piece by the electrically conductive rollers 41 is defined.

Furthermore, the second embodiment may use the conveyance container 341 shown in FIG. 21. In this case, the plating operation is as follows: the carrying case 341 is placed on the rollers 243 for carrying in; Workpieces W are arranged on the rollers 243 for carrying in to be individually accommodated in respective rooms 245 for accommodating workpieces of the transport container 341 ; the carrying case 341 together with the work pieces W accommodated therein is carried in by the leak preventing device 221 on the side and the inlet 212 is carried into the plating bath 201 ; and after plating, they are conveyed toward the downstream side through the outlet 214 and the leak preventing device 222 .

In the case where the plating bath is not provided with the inlet 212 or the outlet 214 , such a construction is possible that a robot for feeding in there is provided adjacent to the side wall for carrying in the plating bath to detachably the carrying container 341 and work pieces to hold, which are positioned to be accommodated individually in respective spaces 345 for accommodating work pieces of the transport container 341 , and to be arranged on the electrically conductive rollers 41 , while a robot for carrying out is provided adjacent to the side wall for carrying out the plating bath to detachably hold the transport container 341 and the work pieces arranged on the electroconductive rollers 41 and to carry them out of the plating bath. In this case, the upper electrode 202 , if provided, is arranged so as not to interfere with the carrying case 341 and the work pieces carried in and out of the plating bath.

According to the present invention, workpieces are subjected to plating conditions while they are being transported on the electrically conductive rollers or and be moved as the reels rotate forward and backward. Consequently can work pieces with higher plating efficiency and higher Productivity can be plated and without any damage due to any mutual interference between neighboring workpieces. By means of this before parts, the present invention is advantageous to the plating of relatively small measured plate-shaped or flat electronic parts, mechanical parts or similar articles applicable.

While only certain currently preferred embodiments of the present ing invention have been described in detail, as those skilled in the art in the field it will be obvious certain changes and modifications  be carried out with respect to an embodiment without departing from the scope depart from the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (19)

1. A plating system comprising:
a plating bath ( 1 ; 201 ) provided with an anode ( 2 , 3 ; 202 , 203 );
a plurality of electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) forming a cathode and arranged in the plating bath ( 1 ; 201 ) for conveying work pieces (W) as subjects for plating; and
a plating current supply section ( 45 ) for supplying plating current to the anode ( 2 , 3 ; 202 , 203 ) and to the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) to cause the workpieces (W) to be plated. 2. Plating system according to claim 1, wherein the plating bath ( 201 ) has a side wall ( 211 ) for carrying in, which defines an inlet ( 212 ) through which the workpieces (W) on the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) in the plating bath ( 201 ) and a side wall ( 213 ) for the outward direction defining an outlet ( 214 ) through which the workpieces (W) that have been plated are carried out of the bath, a respective one of the side wall ( 211 ) for In and the side wall ( 213 ) for carrying out is provided with a leak preventing device ( 221 , 222 ) to prevent a plating solution in the plating bath ( 201 ) from leaking out of the bath while allowing the workpieces (W) run through the inlet ( 212 ) or outlet ( 214 ). 3. The plating system of claim 1, further comprising a roller drive means ( 42 , 55 , 56 , 59 , 61 , 47 ) for causing the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) to rotate in the forward and reverse directions. 4. The plating system according to claim 1, wherein the anode ( 2 , 3 ) has a lower anode ( 3 ) which is arranged below the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ), and an upper anode ( 2 ) which is above the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) is arranged. The plating system of claim 5, further comprising a replacement work piece ( 331 ) disposed adjacent to respective one of opposite lateral edges of a work piece supporting area defined by the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ), the replacement - Workpiece ( 331 ) is electrically connected to a cathode side of the plating current supply section ( 45 ). 6. A plating system comprising:
a plating bath ( 201 ) provided with an anode ( 202 , 203 );
a work piece container unit ( 21 ) having a plurality of electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) for carrying work pieces (W) as subjects for plating thereon, the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) forming a cathode, and a roller drive device ( 42 ) for causing the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) to rotate in the forward and reverse directions;
conveying means ( 243 ) for conveying the work piece container unit ( 21 ) and inserting the work piece container unit ( 21 ) into and removing the plating bath ( 201 ); and
a plating current supply section ( 270 ) for supplying plating current to the anode ( 202 , 203 ) and the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) to cause the workpieces (W) to be plated. 7. The plating system according to claim 6, wherein the anode ( 202 , 203 ) has a lower anode ( 203 ), which is arranged below the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ), and an upper anode ( 202 ), which is above the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) is arranged, and wherein further a displacement device ( 6 ) is provided in order to shift the upper anode to a position at which the upper anode ( 202 ) does not disturb the work piece container unit ( 21 ) when the work piece Container unit ( 21 ) in the plating bath ( 201 ) is inserted or removed therefrom. 8. The plating system of claim 7, further comprising a replacement work piece ( 331 ) disposed adjacent a peripheral edge of a work piece supporting region defined by the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ), the replacement work piece ( 331 ) is electrically connected to a cathode side of the plating current supply section ( 270 ). The plating system according to claim 4 or 7, wherein the plating current supply section ( 270 ) has an upper anode current control section ( 254 ) for controlling a plating current to be supplied to the upper anode ( 202 ) and a lower anode current control section ( 255 ) for controlling a lower one ren anode ( 203 ) to be supplied plating current. 10. The plating system according to claim 4 or 7, wherein the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) are each provided with a roller cover ( 51 ) shielding a lower side thereof from the lower anode ( 3 ; 203 ). 11. The plating system according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) each have a drive shaft part ( 42 ) which is provided with a drive element ( 55 ), and a work piece-bearing roller part ( 48 ) which is attached to the drive shaft part ( 42 ) is removably attached to carry the workpieces (W) thereon. 12. The plating system of claim 4 or 7, wherein the upper anode ( 2 , 202 ) comprises a releasable electrode material that is releasable as plating progresses; and a mesh member ( 301 ) is provided below the upper anode ( 2 ; 202 ) to prevent fine particles of the releasable electrode material resulting from dissolution of the releasable electrode material during plating from falling on the workpieces (W). 13. The plating system according to claim 4 or 7, wherein the upper anode ( 2 ; 202 ) comprises an insoluble electrode material. 14. The plating system according to claim 1 or 6, wherein the plating bath ( 1 ; 201 ) is provided with a filter device ( 311 ) for filtering a plating solution contained in the plating bath (1 ,; 201) to remove fine dirt contained therein. 15. A plating system according to claim 1 or 6, further comprising a conveying guide ( 321 ) to prevent that on the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) at locations adjacent to each other along an axis of a respective one of the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) arranged Work pieces (W) contact each other. Comprises 16. The plating system of claim 1 or 6, further comprising a Beförde approximately container (341), which is assigned to the electrically conductive rollers (41) and to move, with the conveying container (341) a plurality of spaces (345) for Housing workpieces (W) defined, each extending through the container in its thickness direction to accommodate respective ge workpieces (W) individually. 17. A plating process comprising the following steps:
Providing a plating bath ( 1 ) with an anode ( 2 , 3 ) and a plurality of electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) for supporting workpieces (W) as subjects for plating thereon, the electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) forming a cathode;
Carrying the workpieces (W) into the plating bath ( 1 );
Placing the workpieces (W) on the electroconductive rollers ( 41 ) and subjecting the workpieces (W) to plating while moving them on the electroconductive rollers ( 41 ) by rotating the electroconductive rollers; and
Removing the work pieces (W) thus plated from the plating bath ( 1 ). The plating method according to claim 17, wherein the work pieces (W) are subjected to plating while being reciprocated on the electroconductive rollers ( 41 ) by rotating the electroconductive rollers ( 41 ) in the forward and backward directions. 19. A plating process comprising the following steps:
Providing a plating bath ( 201 ) with an anode ( 202 , 203 ) and a work piece container unit ( 21 ) with a plurality of electrically conductive rollers ( 41 ) which form a cathode and carry the work pieces ( 41 ) as subjects for plating thereon ;
Inserting the work piece container unit ( 21 ) into the plating bath ( 201 );
Subjecting the workpieces (W) to plating while reciprocating them on the electroconductive rollers ( 41 ) by rotating the electroconductive rollers ( 41 ) in the forward and backward directions; and
Removing the work piece container unit ( 21 ) containing the work pieces (W) thus plated from the plating bath ( 201 ).